Ironcedar — “HANDED-DOWN LESSONS”

Ironcedar — “HANDED-DOWN LESSONS” [Intro] Yeah… Zion City. This one for the youth. Listen close. I ain't here to judge you— I'm here to tell you what I learned. [Verse 1] I had to grow up, had to finally tell the truth, Put the drugs down, take your time, protect your youth. Stay in school, get your mind right, build your foundation, Knowledge is power when you're fighting through frustration. I'm tired of seeing young kids sitting behind bars, Same old story, saying poverty pushed them too far. But I know life ain't simple, and I know struggle's real, That's why I'm giving you the game that I learned how to feel. Don't get distracted by the phone, by the likes, by the screen, Technology's powerful, but don't let it control your dreams. Keep your focus, keep your track, keep your eyes on the prize, Sometimes wisdom ain't something you find online. [Chorus] Stay in school, keep your head up, keep grinding, Build your future, keep your purpose and your timing. What was handed down wasn't always clothes or gold, It was survival, it was lessons, it was stories getting told. Have a plan, have a backup, that's the way you survive, You better have it when you need it than need it and not have it in time. I'm giving back the game, let the next generation know: You can change your whole life if you stay focused and grow. [Verse 2] They call it hand-me-downs—yeah, I know about that, But the greatest things handed down don't fit in a backpack. Lessons from the elders, every scar became a teacher, Every hard road put another tool within our reach. Nobody knows tomorrow, so prepare for the unknown, Learn how to stand strong before you're standing alone. Keep something in reserve, keep another route planned, Sometimes being ready is the way you lend a hand. They say, “You can't grab it.” I say, “Matter of fact, watch me.” Stack me up with sandbags— Watch how I carry that weight properly. Every time I step inside this booth, I'm bringing knowledge, Trying to turn these lyrics into something you can acknowledge. Not just entertainment, not another empty sound— I'm trying to put something useful in the next generation's hands. [Chorus] Stay in school, keep your head up, keep grinding, Build your future, keep your purpose and your timing. What was handed down wasn't always clothes or gold, It was survival, it was lessons, it was stories getting told. Have a plan, have a backup, that's the way you survive, You better have it when you need it than need it and not have it in time. I'm giving back the game, let the next generation know: You can change your whole life if you stay focused and grow. [Verse 3] When you're twelve, you don't always understand the mission, At twenty-two, you're looking back with a whole different vision. Sometimes you gotta live and learn, that's part of being human, But somebody giving you the game can keep you from assuming. Education ain't just a classroom—it's learning how to live, Learning how to build something, learning what you got to give. College, trade school, business—find the road that's yours, Build a skill, build a future, build something you can afford. And if you stumble, don't believe your story's over, A setback ain't a sentence, it's another lesson closer. You got time to turn around, you got time to make it right, You can take the darkest chapter and rewrite your life. [Bridge] So I'm talking to the kid Who thinks nobody understands. I'm talking to the one Who's just trying to make a plan. Don't throw your future away For something temporary. Your life is worth more Than the pressure you're carrying. Ask for help. Stay in school. Learn a trade. Build a skill. Protect your mind. Protect your future. And never stop learning. [Final Chorus] Stay in school, keep your head up, keep grinding, Build your future, keep your purpose and your timing. What was handed down wasn't always clothes or gold, It was survival, it was lessons, it was stories getting told. Have a plan, have a backup, that's the way you survive, You better have it when you need it than need it and not have it in time. I'm giving back the game, let the next generation know: This is your opportunity—now go and make it grow. [Outro] Zion City. Iron Cedar. This one's for the youth. I lived it. I learned it. Now I'm giving it back. You don't have to make every mistake yourself. Sometimes the lesson is listening. Stay in school. Get your education. Learn a trade. Build something. Take care of your people. That's how we pass survival down.